Karen Walker Works with United Nations

NOT CHARITY, JUST WORK is the motto behind the United Nations’ ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, which has just teamed up with eyewear designer Karen Walker for her latest campaign, Karen Walker Visible, available Feb. 10. The brand has hired artisans living in impoverished communities in Kenya to create the bold designs the Walker brand is known for. The project creates a sustainable business model that encourages self-sufficiency. Walker posted a quote from a supervisor in Nairobi named Winnifred on the brand’s Instagram:

“They (the artisans) have gained more confidence in what they are doing and more skills. It helps us sustain our life, and in future for our children, to pay their school fees. We are hoping for more work.”

The United Nations’ ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative has also worked with designers like Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood as well as major retailers such as Macy’s. They welcome anyone who wants work and provide training for those who have no previous artisan skills and provide all artisans with a “decent wage, which allows them to live in a dignified way.”